Longford woman's alcohol theft charges "speak for themselves" says Judge

“Looking at the charges, well, they speak for themselves,” remarked Longford District Court Judge Bernadette Owens during the case of 31-year-old Lisa Nevin of 67 McEoin Park, Longford. 

There were five charges against Ms Nevin namely thefts from Aldi branches in Longford and Mullingar.

On January 20 last, at Aldi on Green Road in Mullingar, Ms Nevin stands accused of having stolen alcohol to the value of €10.70. A separate charge, also for the same date and branch of Aldi, concerned the theft of alcohol to the value of €26.75. 

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Ms Nevin is further accused of having stolen alcohol worth €11.93 from Aldi on the Athlone Road in Longford on January 23. 

Three days later, on January 26, she was again charged with the theft of alcoholic beverages worth €23.47, again from Aldi on the Athlone Road. 

The final charge against Ms Nevin concerned a theft of alcohol worth €40.74 which occurred on February 3 last from Aldi on the Athlone Road in Longford. The total value of the thefts came to just over €110.

The court heard that Ms Nevin has 54 previous convictions, the most recent being from Roscommon Court for an offence that occurred in June 2024 and for which she received a ten month sentence. 

Solicitor for Ms Nevin, Mr Diarmuid Quinn, told the court he’d had “a candid conversation with his client and expressed the view that residential treatment was required as “this in-and-out of prison was not tackling the root cause.”  

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Mr Quinn told the court, “she was too unwell to go to Cuain Mhuire. She had lost a significant amount of weight and was in a very bad health situation but that has improved.” 

“She is serious about trying to get help. She's on methadone. She's also doing classes while in Dóchas.”  Mr Quinn added that residential treatment would be hugely to her benefit.

Mr Quinn added that June 23 was the scheduled release date for his client in relation to the Roscommon sentence. 

He added, “She put her hands up and pleaded at the earliest opportunity as she usually does in these situations. Unfortunately we’ve been here before, but she does seem to suggest a willingness to go into residential treatment.”

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Delivering her judgement, Judge Bernadette Owens said, “In fairness, I’m familiar with a lot that has happened for Ms Nevin. There’s a background here that doesn’t always come to the fore."

"If Ms Nevin is seriously contemplating the idea of taking up residential treatment, some direction from the probation services could assist her with regard to contacting possible avenues.” 

Judge Owens directed a probation report, noting that as Ms Nevin is serving a sentence, she should be availing of  services. To allow for the completion of the report, Judge Owens remanded her in custody until March 24.